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At Least 15 Girls Were Part of 12-Year-Old's Social Media Circle

Months of taunts preceded the suicide of Rebecca Ann Sedwick, 12.

Published: Thursday, September 12, 2013 at 1:39 p.m.

Last Modified: Friday, September 13, 2013 at 7:22 a.m.

LAKELAND | Investigators identified at least 15 girls who regularly corresponded on social media with a 12-year-old Lakeland girl who took her own life following more than a year of constant bully­ing.

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said Thursday that it appears Rebecca Ann Sedwick jumped to her death at an old cement business after being "beat down" with hate messages online.

During their investigation, detectives found multiple social media applications on which Rebecca was being cyberbullied with messages including "Go kill your­self" and "Why are you still alive?"

Rebecca was "absolutely terrorized on social media," Judd said at a news conference Thursday.

Judd said detectives are trying to investigate the messages and applications, including Kik Messenger and Ask.fm, but many of the websites are based in other countries.

Florida has an anti-bullying law that covers cyberbullying. As the investigation continues, charges, including cyberstalking, could be filed, Judd said.

"If we can get any evidence of a criminal offense, the person or persons involved will be punished," he said.

He said it appears the bullying started sometime in 2012 and was physical at her former school, Crystal Lake Middle School.

According to a Sheriff's Office incident report, Rebecca and her mother, Tricia Norman, reported that multiple girls at Crystal Lake had threatened to fight Rebecca. At one point, Rebecca told deputies, she was pushed in the hallway.

Rebecca did not know who pushed her and no criminal charges were filed, but Crystal Lake was told to change Rebecca's class schedule, the report stated.

After Rebecca left Crystal Lake in February to be home- schooled, the bullying moved online.

Detectives have learned the bullying might have started over a boyfriend problem, Judd said.

"We're trying to sort out a bunch of girl talk that goes further than girl talk," he said.

He said parents of the girls being investigated have cooperated with detectives and several cellphones and laptops have been confiscated.

Before her death, Rebecca had searched questions online related to suicide, including "How many over-the-counter drugs do you take to die?" and "How many Advil do you have to take to die?"

Detectives also found photos of Rebecca with razor blades lying on her arms and with her head resting on a railroad track, Judd said.

"She appeared to be beat down," he said.

The night before her death, Rebecca gave several warning signs about her planned suicide that were never reported.

Judd said a 12-year-old boy in North Carolina, whom Rebecca met through social media, knew of her plan. Rebecca messaged him only hours before her death, saying she was dead and "I'm jumping, I can't take it anymore."

Rebecca also changed her name early Tuesday morning on the free messaging application Kik Messenger to "That Dead Girl."

Rebecca was reported missing Monday about 7 p.m. when she didn't come home from school, the Sheriff's Office said.

Deputies searched for several hours before finding Rebecca about 2:25 a.m. Tuesday lying on the ground at a former Cemex cement plant site on North Eastside Drive in Lakeland, the Sheriff's Office said.

Judd said an autopsy showed wounds consistent with Rebecca jumping off a cement silo, which had three levels at 19 feet, 24 feet and 60 feet. The official cause of death is pending toxicology reports, he said.

The investigation is still in its early stages, but Judd said there were warning signs that nobody noticed. If detectives can find evidence, according to Florida law, the girls could be charged with felony cyberstalking because Rebecca was under 16 years old.

"If you bully somebody online and it's reported to us and we can build a credible case, we will charge you."

[ Stephanie Allen can be reached at stephanie.allen@theledger.com or 863-802-7550. ]

<p>LAKELAND | Investigators identified at least 15 girls who regularly corresponded on social media with a 12-year-old Lakeland girl who took her own life following more than a year of constant bully­ing.</p><p>Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said Thursday that it appears Rebecca Ann Sedwick jumped to her death at an old cement business after being "beat down" with hate messages online.</p><p>During their investigation, detectives found multiple social media applications on which Rebecca was being cyberbullied with messages including "Go kill your­self" and "Why are you still alive?"</p><p>Rebecca was "absolutely terrorized on social media," Judd said at a news conference Thursday. </p><p>Judd said detectives are trying to investigate the messages and applications, including Kik Messenger and Ask.fm, but many of the websites are based in other countries. </p><p>Florida has an anti-bullying law that covers cyberbullying. As the investigation continues, charges, including cyberstalking, could be filed, Judd said. </p><p>"If we can get any evidence of a criminal offense, the person or persons involved will be punished," he said. </p><p>He said it appears the bullying started sometime in 2012 and was physical at her former school, Crystal Lake Middle School. </p><p>According to a Sheriff's Office incident report, Rebecca and her mother, Tricia Norman, reported that multiple girls at Crystal Lake had threatened to fight Rebecca. At one point, Rebecca told deputies, she was pushed in the hallway. </p><p>Rebecca did not know who pushed her and no criminal charges were filed, but Crystal Lake was told to change Rebecca's class schedule, the report stated.</p><p>After Rebecca left Crystal Lake in February to be home- schooled, the bullying moved online. </p><p>Detectives have learned the bullying might have started over a boyfriend problem, Judd said.</p><p>"We're trying to sort out a bunch of girl talk that goes further than girl talk," he said.</p><p>He said parents of the girls being investigated have cooperated with detectives and several cellphones and laptops have been confiscated. </p><p>Before her death, Rebecca had searched questions online related to suicide, including "How many over-the-counter drugs do you take to die?" and "How many Advil do you have to take to die?" </p><p>Detectives also found photos of Rebecca with razor blades lying on her arms and with her head resting on a railroad track, Judd said.</p><p>"She appeared to be beat down," he said. </p><p>The night before her death, Rebecca gave several warning signs about her planned suicide that were never reported.</p><p>Judd said a 12-year-old boy in North Carolina, whom Rebecca met through social media, knew of her plan. Rebecca messaged him only hours before her death, saying she was dead and "I'm jumping, I can't take it anymore."</p><p>Rebecca also changed her name early Tuesday morning on the free messaging application Kik Messenger to "That Dead Girl."</p><p>Rebecca was reported missing Monday about 7 p.m. when she didn't come home from school, the Sheriff's Office said. </p><p>Deputies searched for several hours before finding Rebecca about 2:25 a.m. Tuesday lying on the ground at a former Cemex cement plant site on North Eastside Drive in Lakeland, the Sheriff's Office said.</p><p>Judd said an autopsy showed wounds consistent with Rebecca jumping off a cement silo, which had three levels at 19 feet, 24 feet and 60 feet. The official cause of death is pending toxicology reports, he said. </p><p>The investigation is still in its early stages, but Judd said there were warning signs that nobody noticed. If detectives can find evidence, according to Florida law, the girls could be charged with felony cyberstalking because Rebecca was under 16 years old. </p><p>"If you bully somebody online and it's reported to us and we can build a credible case, we will charge you." </p><p>[ Stephanie Allen can be reached at stephanie.allen@theledger.com or 863-802-7550. ]</p>